NOI_W27023~1.docx

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) Notice of Intent W27023 FY 2026 First Responders - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), intends to apply for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) FY 2026 First Responders - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) (TI-26-006) Notice of Funding Opportunity. SAMHSA anticipates awarding 44-118 state and local awardees that strengthen comprehensive, community-based overdose prevention and response systems.

The purpose of the FR-CARA program is to reduce opioid overdose deaths by expanding evidence-based overdose prevention, increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), strengthening first responder capacity, and improving linkages to treatment and recovery. The program emphasizes partnerships among first responders, healthcare providers, public health agencies, peer recovery organizations, and trusted community-based organizations to ensure individuals who experience an overdose receive timely engagement and ongoing support.

Grant funding would enable MDPH-BSAS to expand and strengthen statewide post-overdose response efforts by supporting coordinated partnerships among first responder agencies and community-based organizations. The proposed project will increase access to naloxone, field-initiated buprenorphine where appropriate, rapid referral pathways, and ongoing treatment and recovery supports for individuals at high risk of overdose.

The grant requirements include:

· Strengthening first responder capacity to respond to opioid overdoses using evidence-based practices.

· Expanding community-based overdose prevention and post-overdose engagement through trusted community anchor organizations.

· Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine and methadone, through rapid referral and care coordination.

· Enhancing partnerships among first responders, healthcare providers, and recovery support providers.

· Collecting performance data and evaluating program outcomes to improve overdose response and treatment engagement.

The purpose of this notice is to publicize MDPH-BSAS's intent to submit a federal grant application naming Health Resources in Action and Addiction Response Resources as training and technical assistance partners. MDPH-BSAS intends to contract with these organizations because each possesses specialized expertise and established statewide partnerships that are essential to implementing the proposed FR-CARA project. Together, these organizations will strengthen the capacity of community partners, first responders, and other key stakeholders to implement evidence-based overdose prevention, response, and linkage-to-care strategies.

Health Resources in Action (HRiA) has extensive experience providing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building to community-based organizations serving individuals at increased risk of overdose. In addition to serving as a community anchor for the project, HRiA will develop and deliver training and education for community anchor organizations on overdose prevention and response, emerging drug trends, responder safety, Good Samaritan laws, overdose awareness and prevention strategies, and evidence-based post-overdose referral pathways. HRiA will also support peer-to-peer learning among community anchors, facilitate community engagement workgroups focused on priority populations, conduct resource mapping activities, strengthen partnerships with organizations serving populations disproportionately affected by substance use and overdose, and implement sustainable capacity-building strategies, including train-the-trainer models.

Critically, HRiA developed the Neighborhood Overdose Prevention Education (NOPE) model which has been utilized to positive effect in Boston and Springfield. The NOPE model trains non-traditional partners, such as businesses, faith-based organizations, barbershops, clubs, community centers, libraries, nail/hair salons, and restaurants and clubs. HRiA staff provide the training and support to these community partner sites in addition to mini-grants to support representatives from these sites in conducting community outreach on overdose prevention, including naloxone distribution. The NOPE model has successfully bolstered overdose prevention activities in the current cities where it has offered and has contributed meaningfully to substantial increases in naloxone access in neighborhoods and spaces previously unserved by traditional healthcare and human service agencies. By partnering with HRiA, BSAS will expand the NOPE model to two additional communities if awarded funding.

Addiction Response Resources (ARR) has demonstrated expertise in providing education and technical assistance to first responders, public health agencies, and cross-sector partners on evidence-based overdose prevention and response practices. ARR will develop and deliver training for first responders and other key community sectors on overdose prevention and response, emerging drug trends, responder safety, Good Samaritan laws, overdose awareness and prevention strategies, and effective post-overdose referral and linkage-to-treatment practices. The organization will also provide ongoing technical assistance and implement capacity-building activities, including train-the-trainer models, to promote sustainable local expertise and strengthen coordinated overdose response systems across participating communities.

ARR currently serves as a consultant for BSAS to conduct first responder trainings as part of the COSSUP grant. Through this, they have an existing record of strong performance of their work on COSSUP as a trainer of first responders on the relevant topics to FR-CARA grant. Additionally, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is submitting a project period extension for COSSUP for FY27 to sustain current training offerings, and if awarded the FR-CARA grant, ARR will be able to expand and enhance their training and TA offerings on grant required training topics. This partnership is a fit for the NOFO and aligned with DPH goals to prepare for and respond to evolving overdose/drug-involved events that involve first responder response.

Together, these organizations will ensure that community partners, first responders, and other key stakeholders have the knowledge, skills, and technical support necessary to implement evidence-based practices, strengthen local overdose response systems, and improve equitable access to treatment and recovery services throughout the project period.

If you have equal qualifications to the organization mentioned above and would like to be considered for partnership on this grant, send qualifications along with any questions or comments with the subject line: MA FR-CARA_W27023 in writing to Ryan H. Naismith at ryan.h.naismith@mass.gov by August 7th, 2026 at 4pm.